Apparatus for proportioning liquid mixtures



4,1953 E. M. O'NEILL 2,647,485

APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIXTURES Original Filed April 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l i 3 ll 22 Edward M 0We/'// INVENT'QR ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 E. M. ONEILL APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIXTURES Original Filed April 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIF INVENTOR ZZ/m/ AT QRNEY Aug. 4, 1953 E. M." O'NEILL 2,647,485

APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING LIQUID MIXTURES Original Filed April 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 O t l "5'7 9 0 n I 4 4 2 1 3 /47/4 I INVENTOR BY ZZMM/ ATTOYRN EY Patented Aug. 4, 1953 EfSai PATENT 'CFFFI(TE ARPARA'EUS FOR) RROPORTIONINGJ LIQUID, MIXTURES.

- 'Ihistvinvention relates; togauging: apparatus? fbniacnurately"indicating when; during the: oper atlom of? placing iiquidin; a1 containers,v a preadisterm in'edi quantity" or proportion: has; been added.

This invention discloses: an improvement of theteme'chanism disclosed in myccopenclingi application.S'er;;No. .i54;0B7; filedAugustii, L942, now Rattanti No..2 ;399.;-29\lg and entitled Liquid: Level Ihdicatim?" 'Iln's:v applicationa'is a! division of" application Sen NT). .a opss mm A'piil'ii ig 1945; andentitled mpparatus for: Proportioning Liquid Mixtures.

r In ,preparingsaatintfto match: an? existing: color", such, for example; assinconnectiont with: repair; ingraor' touching up? automobile bcxdiese'on which the finish has: b68117: damaged; it. is: common to. mimxsuitableibasic? colors in proportions: pre-- SGIilIHd byEIfOImUMIEfOY the required tint. Such" fformulasare? commonly. expressed: as; scale ines'whiclii'musttprevaileafter the. addition of :the: suncessivez: ingredients to the" mixture.

: IttiS-Eil'li object; or; thisflinvention: to? pmvide suchtai'ri appanatus'}. embodying at sealer arranged for accurate reading? without: the" use: of: magnie fication'gi vemierarrangement's; or: the. like;

It? isa'anothen object: of this invention to: provldersueli: an? apparatus which: accurate: positioningtofi the-scale withiresp'ecti to the container-z of the: mixture: not required This: invention possessesrmany other. advantages; and :hasothen-objectswhichrmaysbe; made more clearly appanent; from; a consideration. of onerembodiment oi the invention. For this purr pose there is: showna. form; in. the drawings 3102- companying and, forming, part of the, present specification. The formmwilll now be: described in detail,,. illustrating the. general. principles of the invention but it-lisv. to he understoodthatthis detailedi description. is. not to. be. taken inaliniiting sense, since the scope of thisinvention is best defined by the appendedclaiins.

the drawings:

Figure. 1 isan' elevation 01 a" mixing machine incorporating thegauging apparatus oithe invention;

' Fig: 2* is an elevationon an enlarged" scale; partlyin section; oi the gauging: apparatus;

Fig; 3- is mvertical section on a further en'- larged scale, t'akem as indicated byline 3-4: on Fig-5 2 Fig tnansverse seet ion; taken as indifcatedz; HyAthHililIflSe 54-5 011. Figs 3 and" 2a Eigii is; anuelevation, 011-, 31111 enlarged; sealer-, of the: indicating! mechanism;

Eigi' 7. is; a vertical* section om an enlarged scalntakenzass indicatediion lineJL-lr oiiFigi 6;;

Eigqsz. 8 9.; and: 10 are detail sections, taken-as indieated: lay-lathe? correspondingly numberedr lines onrhhgr; 6-;;an'd

T Eig; l t; is an ,detailtnsectiom, takenas. indicated by line HH of Fig. 3. i

- Referring; tol Fig..- 1: of: the; drawings, vatmix-ing apparatus? is? Shawna of theetype-i disclosed-.- in. a su pending: application 1 filed in .the nameof. Ed? wardrMnGNeilhon Augusttwi; 1.942,.Serial Num-- her: 455;83-3;= andi entitled. Mixing. Apparatus! This; apparatuse includes a: pluralityof, cans; or. containers lib; containing dinerent liquids 4 or in? gredients Whichrma-y be -required in mixture ,formula; FOITTlIIStaIICB; oansww may eachtcom tain-i paint, lacquen, on the: like, ofa difierent, colonfltz is thuszpossible toproduoe a painter-t lacquen'rnixtureionancentaintintaorrshadeioflcolor; by mixing portions of theipaintsyimsome;onalli of the: cans" Hk'irr. aceordance--with.- a known formula: or

" For receivingthe ingredients; a receptacle: Hi provided; suitably supported; below:- t-he; cans; Ills? Each ofttthe cansslil isrprovided anther-valve IZ: for 'aneureztelm" controlling the: discharge: of: thecontents-z'oiithe can; Cans- Hi are carriediby, azttaldles l3;rotatadly sunnortedi on: a: standard I 4*. whichimay restr'omthei'fioon H5: 'Thes annange ment'is'sucl'nthatZtabIe 5E3 may herirevolverlzma-nuzally to briinglthat canzillzhaiving' the? desiredi colon onfiingredient immediately: oven receptaolw I l. The valve'. I 2!. of? this; cam is then 2 opened: tc-r allow the-1 propenr'quantityi of the: contents; of? the can: to; flow into receptacle Ijf!,. this quantity being-g indicatedwithergauging? apparatus: 1 8*! inva; mans non to? liereina'rfter describedi,

Means incmdingz a motcm: l 9; are; provided ion agitatingrthe: paint; on other: ingredients, in; the: cans: an? beforez the: mixing; operation: is started; Containers 20 and 2| are provided on the table for lioldingtliqnidss Whli'fl'li flow: more: readily. than paint: an'dz. doi not require: agitation; such: as a thinnerlnrfidryen hiquidlfitomi the:itespeetiive containerse'zllp 2:! is? discharged: througli valved: piper;w 22 which; are: each; placed; between. a. pair "oizcamsfl i]: and terminates amljacenn the loot tomstof theseicanse The gauging apparatus it; includes. azifiiiain 25 havingz'austem 2 6 (Figs: 2 and 6:)1.v Theifioattis intendeditouhe freeiyrmoyahleziniaccordanceewitlr Uhe leveliofitherzliqnidiinathemeceptacle 1%| smthat' tllsepnsitiom of: the: pnenaendz 21ml"; the stem. 25;

will accurately correspond to the liquid level. To ensure accuracy, the float 25 is made of very light material, such as balsa wood, and the stem 26 is a thin aluminum tube closed at its upper end 21.

A dial 23 is provided to gauge the rise of the fioat 25, in proportion to the height of the receptacle II, and is mounted above the receptacle II. The dial 28 carries a plurality of scales 29 having respectively indicia for use with receptacles II of different sizes. To provide scales of such length as to be readily readable accurately without the need of magnification or verniers, the scales are in the form of concentric graduated circular arcs.

Since such receptacles are in general of standard dimensions for various capacities, the various scales 29 serve to indicate, upon use with appropriate receptacles, definite quantities such as pints, quarts, or gallons. Since such receptacles are of progressively greater heights for greater capacities, there are provided four scales 29, for example, and of progressively increasing lengths. Thus, the shortest scale 30 is for a pint size receptacle, the longest scale 3| is for a gallon receptacle, and the scales 32 and 33 of intermediate lengths are respectively for quart and half-gallon receptacles.

However, it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to use with definite sized receptacles, the only limitation being that the height of the receptacle be greater than the length of the scale to be used. Thus, when a very small amount of a given tint is needed, a halfpint or less can be readily prepared by using the pint scale and a receptacle, such as H, of small diameter or cross section and of suificient height. Similarly, other desired quantities can be prepared by using either the quart, half-gallon or gallon scales with a receptacle of suitable cross section and suitable height.

An indicator mechanism 36 (see Figs. 2, 6, 7, and 8) is provided to assist in accurately determining the arrival of the float 25 at a point corresponding to a definite scale divison. This indicator 36 is slidable in a vertical direction along the face of a hollow tubular member or column 31. As shown in Figs. 3 and. 5, the column 31 has an offset circular portion or head 38 at its upper end upon which is mounted the dial 28. By offsetting the dial 28 in this manner, the overall height of the apparatus is reduced,

As best shown in Figs, 6, 7, and 8, the column 31 is provided with a vertically extending slot 39 opening through its face. The indicator 36 comprises a body member 40 having a lug 4| extending through the slot 39 and carrying clamp means 42 by which the indicator is secured to a light cable 43 having a portion 43-a behind the slot 39 and movable lengthwise thereof, and which supports and adjustably positions the indicator 36.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the cable 43 are joined by a tension spring 44 to maintain the cable 43 as a loop tensioned about a lower idler sheave 45 and an upper driving sheave 46.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the drive sheave 46 is provided with a steep-sided V-groov for accommodating the cable 43, the spring 44 being of sufficient tension to prevent slippage between the cable 43 and the sheave 46. By thus preventing any lost motion between the indicator 36 and the means indicating the position thereof on scale 29, accurate indications of the quantity in the receptacle I l are ensured.

As shown in Fig. 7, the sheave 45 is rotatably supported by a pin 41 secured in an inwardly projecting boss 48 formed in the front wall of the column 31. The drive sheave 46 is fixed on a shaft 50 which is co-axial with the scale 29, idler sheaves Eli and 52 being provided approximately to guide the cable to the sheave 46.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sheave 46 is secured on the shaft 59 near one end thereof, as by a set screw 53. The shaft 58 is rotatably supported in a hub or boss 54, formed on the front wall of column head 38, by a number of rolling bearing elements 55. The shaft 50 extends out of the head 38 and has an operating knob 56 secured on its outer end, as by a set screw 51. Rotation of the shaft 56 by means of the knob 56 serves to adjust the position of the indicator 35 in an obvious manner. An enlarged portion 58 on shaft 50 forms a shoulder 59 which engages the face of the head 38 and co-operates with sheave 45, which engages the inner end of hub 54 to restrain the shaft against axial movement. The frictional resistance of the parts serves to maintain the indicator 36 in adjusted position.

A dial hand 68 is carried by the shaft 56 for rotation therewith for co-operating with the scale 29 to indicate the setting of the indicator mechanism 36. To facilitate accurate setting of the hand 50, it is provided with an index 6| which is radially adjustable so as to be in close relationship with any one of the scales 30, 3!, 32, and As shown in Figs. 2 and 11, the index 65 is positioned for co-operation with the scale 32 for a quart sized receptacle.

The outer end portion of the hand '60 has a radially extending slot 62 and sides Eli-a and 50-1) parallel therewith. The index 6| has a portion 53 of flattened C-shaped cross section which closely embraces the outer end portion of pointer Gil (see Fig. 4) so as to be freely slidable therealong. The index 6| has a pointed end 64 which co-operates with the chosen scale, and a pin 65 projecting through the slot 62 by means of which the pointer may be adjusted.

The entire gauging apparatus is is supported above the receptacle H by a lateral extension lil formed on the lower end of the column 31. and having a hollow boss H slidable over a vertical rod 12 fixed to a small platen or table it which supports the receptacle H. The table 13 is mounted on a post M secured as by a set screw 75 in an arm 16 clamped to the pedestal [4. By loosening the set screw 15, the table '53 may be suitably positioned with respect to the containers It to receive paint, or the like, therefrom without splashing or spilling.

The gauging apparatus 38 may be secured in the proper position on rod l2 by a set screw 18 threaded through the boss ll. However, this position is not critical, nor does it necessarily need to be changed to permit use of receptacles i of different capacities, since means are provided to give a zero indication on the scale 29 for various positions of the receptacle H. The only requirement is that the apparatus it be positioned sufiiciently far above the receptacle ii to allow the indicator 36 to be moved through a distance corresponding to a full scale reading. To facilitate such positioning, a mark (Fig. 2) is provided on the face of the column 3? for co-operation with a marker 8| formed on the indicator body 46. For receptacles H of gallon capacity,

the apparatus must be positioned with the marker 8! at or below the mark 80 when the 5. float, Zii rests-onthe-bottom efi the receptacle-to; ensure atull readingof the gallm scale '31.

The need of accurately positioning: the ap paratus tS with respect to the receptacle !'lis avoided" bymaking the dial hand 59 angularly adjustableon theshaft 50E 'Fhus, aisl'eeve 32- (see Fig. 3) hasthe hand 6%] -seoured=thereon in,-

any preferred manner and has an end portion, 83 adjacent the dial of reduced" inner diameter hearing onthe shaft St and formingan inner shoulder M. sleeve dfi rotatably and slidably restspon a re-- duc'ed portion id-c of the hub of" the: knob :55.

light compression springttfii' confined between, the end of the h-ub -portiori fili-w. and shoulder- B-t, urges sleeve-til axially cf: shaftailiiiso thatt the outer end: tdof the sleeve; engagesi the adjaeent; face-.81 of the enlargedshaftzportion.532 In'rthis'; wayythe-hand siris frictionallyconstrained: to;

rotate with shaft 58'; andi hence im accordance;

with the movement of the indicator. 35; butimay be rotated independent-1y thereoi ias desired, for example, by the pin; 6'5. In thisv way; the-index;- Mwis bot-h radially: and angularly' adjustable: of the scaled! 9'.

I As disclosed in: said: ceapending' application, the indicator- .td-includes: a pointer .99.: pivotedw'at:

9i on-the body member-40E (see higs. 6.1. and 8'):.. The pointer Sit-has a long: indicating: portion: seat and a short actuating; portion; .9 U761 which: is madesufficiently heavy to 'overbalance. the. ill.- dicating portion Thus; with.- .the; indicate ingportion tiled extending to. the: left, as in Fig; 6, the-pointer Qii'iturns:cleckwiseponiitspivot;

swing" the: pointer to. counter-clockwise, abouti pivotk ti upon. upward;movementiefi the float; 235:, referring-to Fig. 6.. In this: way; arrivalof the float at a definite elevation is accurately indicated: by. the alignn'lent: ee-tna pointer" 9.95 with. the marli lii.

It is. important that: the. float; be. guided adsquately to ensure, its. responding: freely to changes in. the liquid; level. Thus; ibis: desirable to guidethe stem: 2% atpoints spaced apart, as; far as possible. Thus; oneoftthesguide means? for the stem 245., indicated at. whiszmountedz at: the lower endsof/thecolumn 3?. Since only the final upward movement of the float for a given liquid level is of any significance, the-other guide means 97 fonthepfioat stem: is mounted. on the indicator body ill, means being provided to.

ing through the eye 98-0 and threaded into a The opposite end portion: of the,

5 I1 until checltedr by. the stop; pin 92-1011. the! body 4 end z'iilsee ii igsl 6 and 9).

crate partly to encirclethe float: stem- 26s,.tha

parts being so proportioned that the. stem 26 is freely slidable through the guide, but, is. quite. accuratelyguidedi axially. The space. between the en'dsiof thearcuate portions 384i and" 98-0 isrsuchl that a slight lateral force, acting. towards the right (figs. Stand: 1 0); onthe stem 27%; forces the. arcuate' portions apart suificiently tovpemnit removal of the stemv from thelguide. The stem 23? be replaced; by forcing it in; the opposite direction. To facilitate placement of thdfiiliBID; in: the guides, the arcuate-portions anal-presided with: diverging.- tails; 99w; andl (m -g; It? is desirable to. be able to remove the: float 26: and'stem 255' to facilitate cleaning when necessary.

To retain the stem 2G in the guide 9?? for all adjusted. positions-of'theindicator 3.5, an abutment Mill, which may convenientlybe a spring ningg: is provided on the stem 26"near its upper As shown in Fig; 9, the' outsicle diameter of the rin lilll is such that theringzcannot; passithrough the space normally provided by'theguide 9?; In. this way, the float". 25 and the stem 26-, when notsupportecl by liquidg: hang from the guide 91 and move up and down with the indicator 38?. as it is adjusted. Attlieisame time, the stem wand float 25 are free to rise in response/to a rise in liquid level and actuate the pointer 98 as previously described. Al. similar abutment lei, spaced below thesguide ill; serves: to. prevent excessive up-- stand movement of! 'the stem 2.5: which might damage the pointer 90.

In using the gauge; it: is positioned at such a distance above thereceptacle ii that, in the lower position of the indicator 3%, the .fioat Z5 rests on the bottom of the receptacle and the indicator. has suiiicient. movement upwardly from this, position. to. cause thehand 6%! to traverse theseale corresponding to the capacity, of. the receptacle-.. This. position. is. not at all critical, due tdthe. previously described. adjustment provided. between. the indicator 3t and thehand dill.

Assuming; thata quart. size-receptacle II is to b.e..usc.d,.the.-lndex. first, adjusted radially to facilitate. aecurate. reading:v of the quart. scale 32l,. as-eh. 1v.nin;the. drawings. The knob 56. is thenmotated. soy-to; position the indicator 35 that the floatLZii restson the bottom of the receptacle M. with pointer 99' and mark 93 ali-gneol. The hand. fili-islthen adjustedangularly on the shaft to, cause,- the index tdpoint to thestarting marlsSonthe. scale 32. It will be apparent that thisadinstmenttof; the-hand permits consid arable. latitude int the. position ofthe; float 25: Dueftdirregularities in the bottom ofz'the receptacles-l is, it.-- is? not desirable to: start. proportioning the.-.mixture-with the float thereon as a starting cpoint, since this might; cause: seriousinaccuracy in the amount or" the :drstsingred-ient; Accordingly, itis; proposed to I add as a; first ingredientzsome-liquidiwhich has-:no effect on the final tint; such; as a; paint thinner or. dryer; from theeeontainentllor 2|; Thist raiseshthe float: 25,;v'318fil1f0f3'13118: receptacle bottom. and-J providestanr accurate; starting point from 1 which to determine the amounts of the essential ingredients. For this purpose, the scales are each provided with a zero mark corresponding to a position of the floatr25 somewhat above the bottom of the receptacle H. The use of some light liquid in this manner serves not only to ensure the accuracy of the mixture, but, since it remains on top of the colored pigments subsequently added, serves to maintain the float out of contact with the colors. Thus, at the conclusion of the mixing operation, such liquid, with the float 25 suspended therein, is on top of the mixture, so that the float does not require cleaning, but may be removed and merely wiped dry.

After initial adjustment of the index ill to the S mark at the proper scale, with the float at the bottom of the receptacle II, the knob 56 is rotated to bring the index 6| to the zero mark, correspondingly raising the indicator 36. The thinner, or other appropriate liquid, is then poured into the receptacle H until the float 25 is raised sufficiently again to align pointer 90 with the mark 93. mixture now starts.

Each of the scales 3D33 on the dial 28 is graduated from zero to 200 in the manner of the scale 32, as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, each scale division equals one-half of one per cent of the total mixture; and simple addition would enable a user successively to set the indicator properly to determine the percentages of the ingredients in a known mixture.

However, such mixtures are usually prepared in accordance with a formula which lists the several ingredients required, with the scale reading which is to obtain after the addition of the proper amount of each ingredient.

As an example, such a formula, utilizing in this case only four ingredients out of the total provided by the machine of Fig. 1, may read as follows:

The proportioning of the To comply with such a formula, that can l3 which carries ingredient No. 1 is brought over receptacle II by appropriate rotation of table [3. Then, after preliminary setting of the apparatus as heretofore described, the index 6| is moved to scale division [5| on the scale 32 which corresponds to the size of the receptacle I l. The ingredient No. 1 is then discharged from the container It by means of the valve 12 thereon into receptacle l l until the pointer 90 is aligned with the mark 93. Now the index 6| is moved to division I66, and ingredient No. 2 is discharged from appropriate can IQ into receptacle H until the point so is again aligned with the mark 93. Then the index 61 is moved to a position midway between divisions !61 and H68, and can I0, corresponding to ingredient 6, is used as a source of supply until pointer 90 again aligns with the mark 93. Lastly, index 6| is moved to division 200, and ingredient No. 15 is added to the mixture until the pointer 90 again aligns with the mark 93. The receptacle H is now full, and can be used for reproducing the color represented by the formula.

Some types of ingredients which it may be desired to mix, for example baking synthetic enamel, require a much greater amount of thinner than that provided by the rise of the float from the S to the zero mark. Accordingly, a mark BS is provided on the pint, quart, and half gallon scales spaced a greater distance from the zero mark to permit the addition of such larger amounts of thinner. This requires the use of a quart size receptacle for a pint of such enamel mixture and correspondingly larger receptacles for a quart or half gallon mixture. A gallon is never mixed, since it would overflow the receptacle.

The inventor claims:

1. In a scale and pointer mechanism: a rectilinearly movable indicator member, a rotatable shaft, coupling means for moving said member only in accordance with the angular movement of said shaft, a scale member, a pointer co-operating with said scale member and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means frictionally coupling said pointer for rotation with said shaft whereby said pointer is adjustable with respect to said shaft to alter the scale reading for a given position of said movable member.

2. In a scale and pointer mechanism for desirably positioning a movable member, a shaft, bearing means rotatably supporting said shaft, means for moving said member in accordance with the angular movement of said shaft, a scale member, means forming a pair of spaced shoulders on the shaft, a pointer co-operating with said scale member, means rotatably mounting said pointer on said shaft between said shoulders, and spring means confined between said mounting means and one of said shoulders urging said mounting means into frictional engagement with the other shoulder, whereby said pointer is adjustably coupled for rotation with said shaft.

3. In a scale and pointer mechanism for desirably positioning a movable member and including a rotatable element for moving said member, means providing a plurality of radially spaced arcuate scales with graduations extending at least partly about said element, a pointer mounted on said element, means for adjusting said pointer radially for co-operating with a chosen scale, and means for adjusting the pointer angularly on said element to alter the scale reading for a given position of said movable member.

4. In a scale and pointer mechanism: a rectilinearly movable indicator member; a rotatable shaft; means coupled to said shaft for positioning said movable member only in accordance with the angular position of said shaft; manually operable means for adjusting the angular position of said shaft; a scale member; a pointer cooperating with said scale member and rotatably mounted on said shaft; and means frictionally coupling said pointer for rotation with said shaft for rotation with said shaft, said frictional coupling permitting adjustment of said pointer independently of said shaft to alter the reading of said pointer with said scale member for a given position of said movable member. 

